Related
I love the phone in everyway...but...Im disappointed with the screen. I had a Fascinate before it, and while everything about it sucked, the screen was beautiful! I guess i got spoiled with the amoled. Whats everyone elses opinion here. Im contemplating returning it, hoping the bionic has a better screen.
yeah, the Thunderbolt's screen doesn't even come close to the Fascinate. I had the two side-by-side last night and the difference especially at max brightness was quite noticeable. I also noticed that angry birds isn't as smooth and fluid on the Bolt as the Fascinate but other than that, the Thunderbolt easily outdoes the Fascinate.
I guess the amoled screens are too expensive to manufacture. I will not even consider the stealth from sammy. I have given up with them as a cellphone manufacturer...the fasc is STILL running eclair...A big FAIL on sammies end.
At least we wont get screen burn in's like amoled gets.
i went from an iPhone 4 to an evo, so dropped resoultion going to a bigger screen, and actually thought it looked great, to then this phone, and I have to say, the screen on this phone for me is fantastic. I think it is maybe a little to warm sometimes, as when showing flesh tones, but I would assume that like for the evo, we will be able to change that over time.
suzook said:
I guess the amoled screens are too expensive to manufacture. I will not even consider the stealth from sammy. I have given up with them as a cellphone manufacturer...the fasc is STILL running eclair...A big FAIL on sammies end.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cant really blame samsung. verizon is the final say and they usally are slow to approve/disapprove any updates. just like their phone releases
magneticzero said:
cant really blame samsung. verizon is the final say and they usally are slow to approve/disapprove any updates. just like their phone releases
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, this happens among all the carriers. Samsung is the slowest cell phone MFG to release updates for their current phone models. Unless the list changed, and I would have to go find it on engadget, HTC was the highest, and above samsung by a good deal.
I know what you mean coming from the Incredible. But I've gotten used to the slcd just don't look at your other for a while. I think its pointless to look for perfection especially on a phone screen. You'd need a color calibrated broadcast monitor for perfection. One thing i noticed is the slcd is much better in direct sunlight. So a little less brightness and clarity keeping in mind I can't really notice at normal viewing distances and the fact that you can see the screen outside seems like an ok trade off. (Yes if you hold it really close to your eyes and study it you can but... Just my thoughts on it.
nosympathy said:
i went from an iPhone 4 to an evo, so dropped resoultion going to a bigger screen, and actually thought it looked great, to then this phone, and I have to say, the screen on this phone for me is fantastic. I think it is maybe a little to warm sometimes, as when showing flesh tones, but I would assume that like for the evo, we will be able to change that over time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Went out for a walk yesterday w/the Bolt using Cardio Trainer, my god it was impossible to see the screen in the sun ... didn't feel like trying to tweak settings, make brighter, etc., while I was on the move - but will do so next time before I start the run just in case I want to see where I'm at.
I definitely notice a difference between the AMOLED Incredible (my wife's phone, formerly mine) and the TB. The colors are off - too brilliant in the wrong way. Blues are purplish and Reds are off too. Its even worse when comparing to the iPhone, which is what I have been carrying lately. Not happy with it - the crispness of the iPhone makes this look blown out. As my wife said "It's like the iPhone is HD and the Thunderbolt is SD." The additional real estate is nice, but definitely prefer the Inc AMOLED and the iPhone Retina.
Ooof.
Wonder if Verizon will follow suit with Sprint. An LTE Nexus S would be money.
Its not like its your living room featured TV. You guys must have some superb vision or something, but I am satisfied, but some people you cant just please.
Beggars can't be choosers. Either go with a company who don't update your software ever or go with one that does. Most important to me with my phone is properly functioning software.
PJnc284 said:
Wonder if Verizon will follow suit with Sprint. An LTE Nexus S would be money.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No...its gonna be the samsung stealth.
TNS201 said:
Its not like its your living room featured TV. You guys must have some superb vision or something, but I am satisfied, but some people you cant just please.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't personally do video/photo editing on my phone or watch movies, which is the only reasons I could think of a screen truly mattering. I have the DROID Incredible currently w/ the AMOLED and well generally I can't really tell any functional difference between it and the Thunderbolt screen I played with in a Verizon store after ordering one for myself (arrives tomorrow).
I am a bit of a video/audiophile but only on things like my TV & computer monitors, but can't see why it'd matter for such a small screen either.
Has anyone had any experience w/ the Thunderbolt in direct sunlight? I can't see anything on my Incredible when it's in the sun. I could at least get a vague idea w/ my old iPhone 3G... which I find a more important factor than the color quality/pixel density on a phone.
TNS201 said:
Its not like its your living room featured TV. You guys must have some superb vision or something, but I am satisfied, but some people you cant just please.
Beggars can't be choosers. Either go with a company who don't update your software ever or go with one that does. Most important to me with my phone is properly functioning software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get what you are saying, but your cavalier dismissal ignores the fact that other devices exist that have superior quality. Its not like I am wishing for something ideal that isnt possible. One might expect that when paying top dollar for a "flagship" device you would get some good quality hardware. Not saying the device is flawed, just that the screen definitely isnt as good as phones that came a year before it.
As for properly functioning software, I doubt you could argue that this is functioning perfectly - maybe for you it is and maybe my experiences are anecdotal but I and my coworker are experiencing random reboots, problems with calendar sync, and data transfer problems where you have to reboot to resume connection. I will also volunteer that our Verizon rep said she is seeing very high return rates on the Thunderbolt due to software issues. Again, maybe anecdotal and maybe "some people you just can't please" but sometimes good enough isnt enough in the face of alternatives that work better out of the gate.
suzook said:
I love the phone in everyway...but...Im disappointed with the screen. I had a Fascinate before it, and while everything about it sucked, the screen was beautiful! I guess i got spoiled with the amoled. Whats everyone elses opinion here. Im contemplating returning it, hoping the bionic has a better screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The amoiled screen has a amazing color saturation; however the low subpixel count makes text look very pixelated. I much prefer the slcd screen for viewing web pages. Makes the small text so much clearer. I had the Nexus S prior to this phone and I think the Thunderbolt is much nicer overall, including the display (for my usage).
suzook said:
I love the phone in everyway...but...Im disappointed with the screen. I had a Fascinate before it, and while everything about it sucked, the screen was beautiful! I guess i got spoiled with the amoled. Whats everyone elses opinion here. Im contemplating returning it, hoping the bionic has a better screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bionic will have a better qhd screen but if it is like the atrix then it I'd using the pentile matrix and will more than likely look even more "fuzzy" than the bolt. Do a Google search for arstechnica pentile matrix they have a great article on it and after using super lcd on my incredible (I had the amoled version as well and the nexus one) I much prefer the super lcd to any amoled with pentile. Plus the bionic won't even have the better colors like amoled. That is a big fail on motorola for making their first qhd screens pentile. I have to believe the screen on the thunderbolt will have to look better.
OK, there is definately major variences between screens on different phones. I just got a replacement for a dead speaker, and well...the screen has much more contrast, and does not wash out much at an angle. Im suprised to see such a difference between the 2.
I actually love this screen. I came from the Nexus One AMOLED screen and I prefer the TBolt. The screen is brighter on the Tbolt and the colors are just ever so slightly less saturated than the AMOLED which is actually a good thing in some cases(movies and skin tones)
I'm with you, I miss the blacks of my amoled dinc.
I'll be switching to an AT&T concession line within a week. After comparing their current offerings for about an hour in two different stores, I'm leaning toward the Skyrocket due to it being the only one (besides the standard Galaxy S2, that is) that delivered an iPhone-like smooth experience. I would just get an iPhone, but despite being a Mac person I honestly feel that the lack of personalization and ho-hum screen size make using it an underwhelming experience. I reset several (including all three LTE phones) to factory defaults, tweaked some basic settings a bit, and put them through their paces doing my best to replicate my typical usage. The Vivid won me over in the build quality and ergonomics departments, but as much as I like some features of Sense that make for a great usability experience (keyboard, contacts integration) it's undeniably to blame for some jittery/choppy performance that crops up too often and the customization of the Android OS renders manufacturer UIs largely moot. I thought that I could just root/overclock the Vivid to counteract its shortcomings, but have come to learn that it has a locked bootloader that seemingly has no fix in sight. (VERY disappointed in HTC/AT&T for doing this) While not a big deal to most, the Vivid's speaker was also barely acceptable in volume (as I've come to expect from their devices) while the Skyrocket reached a great level. (as I've also come to expect from Samsung) The LG Nitro was extremely poor in this regard and, as I use the speaker on my phone quite a bit, pretty much took it out of the running.
...but I digress for the rambling. Moving on to the purpose of this thread: the screen. It's a prominent part of any modern smartphone and it's the one feature keeping the Vivid in the running and making me doubt the Skyrocket. As an owner of an ISFd Pioneer Elite Kuro, (also known as the undisputed king of flat panel picture quality) the former immediately impressed while the latter made me recoil in horror. (as did the standard S2) The Vivid's qHD display is naturally sharp, has great color fidelity/saturation, and has a fairly neutral grayscale. The Nitro's 720P display was also nice, but the grayscale tinged noticeably blue and was a bit on the soft side overall. I didn't have a problem with the Skyrocket's resolution as I didn't see any obscene artifacts on text and it looked a bit sharper than the Nitro, but the unnaturally saturated colors were harsh and the grayscale (white in particular) is an absolute joke. The black level is excellent and clearly better than both the Vivid (good black) and Nitro, (respectable) but that's the only advantage amongst numerous critical deficiencies. I can overcome the Skyrocket's plasticky feel and too-flat design with a case and, as previously mentioned, am confident that I can customize the device to make up for any UI shortcomings, but if there's one thing that can ruin my experience with this device it's the screen.
So, a question: what are my options in correcting the screen inaccuracies on this device? The oversaturation I could probably deal with, but the grayscale/white balance is my primary concern. I do not want to read a web page like this one where the text is floating in a sea of blue. One review I came across (I've watched/read many for several devices) mentioned a free app called "Screen Adjuster," but upon further reading found that the Skyrocket's grayscale isn't linear so if one calibrates to perfect white then gray/black could actually be tinged a color like red or throw off color reproduction. Are there any apps/mods that will solve this issue? Is there a custom ROM out there that corrects this issue? Any help is appreciated.
I have had the SR for about 7 weeks now....Do not have any issues you are writing about.. There is nothing wrong with this screen.. people have too much time on their hands to be complaining about a " screen issue" that only exists in the owners' mind.
Get the phone, enjoy the phone.. live life and have fun..
I mean if its posted on the net, it must be true right?
GalaxySkyrocket500 said:
I have had the SR for about 7 weeks now....Do not have any issues you are writing about.. There is nothing wrong with this screen.. people have too much time on their hands to be complaining about a " screen issue" that only exists in the owners' mind.
Get the phone, enjoy the phone.. live life and have fun..
I mean if its posted on the net, it must be true right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your just going to be an a-hole and post nothing constructive? No one gives a crap about your little pearls of wisdom, grow up. If you are not having issues with your phone or dont have the ability to properly examine and interpret the correct color temperature of a display then move on.
Now back to the OP, I also see the color imbalance in the displays, unfortunately this has been an issue since the original Galaxy S phones. The AMOLED displays seem to be particularly difficult to adjust for all scenarios so they end up with a much cooler (bluish) temperature by default. I am certainly no expert, but Supercurio did some amazing things with the original Galaxy S phones with the VooDoo app that was able to properly adjust and tweak the screen to your particular taste. I am sure it wont be long before the dev community is rolling with new ROMs and tweaks that will resolve the issue on this version as well, just hang tight.
http://project-voodoo.org/color
AWiseMonkey said:
So your just going to be an a-hole and post nothing constructive? No one gives a crap about your little pearls of wisdom, grow up. If you are not having issues with your phone or dont have the ability to properly examine and interpret the correct color temperature of a display then move on.
Now back to the OP, I also see the color imbalance in the displays, unfortunately this has been an issue since the original Galaxy S phones. The AMOLED displays seem to be particularly difficult to adjust for all scenarios so they end up with a much cooler (bluish) temperature by default. I am certainly no expert, but Supercurio did some amazing things with the original Galaxy S phones with the VooDoo app that was able to adjust and properly tweak the screen to your particular taste. I am sure it wont be long before the dev community is rolling with new ROMs and tweaks that will resolve the issue on this version as well, just hang tight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said.. get a life and find a girl. maybe you won't waste all your time about your "screen" issue... .... Don't worry Santa might bring you a girlfriend..
GalaxySkyrocket500 said:
I have had the SR for about 7 weeks now....Do not have any issues you are writing about.. There is nothing wrong with this screen.. people have too much time on their hands to be complaining about a " screen issue" that only exists in the owners' mind.
Get the phone, enjoy the phone.. live life and have fun..
I mean if its posted on the net, it must be true right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These are issues that I've seen first-hand and a simple A-B comparison is all that's needed to ensure that it's not "in (my) mind." And you're right, there may be nothing "wrong" with the screen to you. Heck, the vast majority purchases a TV, takes it home, never touches the settings, and blissfully watches an absolute crap picture. I'm sure that these people would agree with your sentiments. By all means, don't let my perspective in any way hamper your enjoyment of this phone. For a videophile (and audiophile...) like me, however, the display on the Skyrocket and Galaxy S2 is poorer than average at default (taking into account phones, televisions, monitors, laptops, etc.) and getting the white point closer to 6500K would go a long way in remedying that.
AWiseMonkey said:
So your just going to be an a-hole and post nothing constructive? No one gives a crap about your little pearls of wisdom, grow up. If you are not having issues with your phone or dont have the ability to properly examine and interpret the correct color temperature of a display then move on.
Now back to the OP, I also see the color imbalance in the displays, unfortunately this has been an issue since the original Galaxy S phones. The AMOLED displays seem to be particularly difficult to adjust for all scenarios so they end up with a much cooler (bluish) temperature by default. I am certainly no expert, but Supercurio did some amazing things with the original Galaxy S phones with the VooDoo app that was able to properly adjust and tweak the screen to your particular taste. I am sure it wont be long before the dev community is rolling with new ROMs and tweaks that will resolve the issue on this version as well, just hang tight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your input! Glanced at your link and it seems to be a direct reference to my inquiry! Will definitely read!
Also, thanks for the reassurance that this can be solved with ROMs. I suspected, but as I've never actually gotten that in depth with the admittedly entry-level Androids I've previously owned this is all fairly new to me.
For months leading up to the release of the Pixel 3 series, I read all the comments online about how much people hated the over-sized notch and how much of a deal-breaker it would be. Many even said they'll choose the regular Pixel 3 instead of the XL. These sentiments continue online to this day... And yet, it appears the XL is outselling the regular Pixel 3 by significant margins. Even the volume of activity on the xda forums is night and day in favor of the XL variant.
So, can you all please share what made the unforgivable notch so forgivable?
I've had the phone about a week now... You do kind of get used to the notch.. It's not as annoying as some make it out to be, IMO. You can always find a wallpaper that hides it on the home screen at least haha.
i was strongly against the notch since before it even came out, i even considered the regular P3....
after having the P3 XL for a week, i am now at peace with it and dont hate it as bad as i thought i would.
presence06 said:
I've had the phone about a week now... You do kind of get used to the notch.. It's not as annoying as some make it out to be, IMO. You can always find a wallpaper that hides it on the home screen at least haha.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But why did you select it over the Pixel 3 if you were so worried about the notch?
PuffDaddy_d said:
But why did you select it over the Pixel 3 if you were so worried about the notch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I found out you can hide the notch, it was an easy decision. I like the bigger screen, bigger battery and more software development.
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app
I was always an Android guy but earlier this year I decided to get the iPhone x coming from a galaxy s8, well I wanted to see if iPhones wore any better since I haven't had one since the 5. Missed my return period and was stuck with it (TMobile financing). The iPhone does have a significant notch as well and got used to it really quickly. Then the pixel 3 and 3 xl got announced and yes everyone hated the notch, except it didn't bother me a single bit. I didn't have the money to cough up for it so I went with the one plus 6T and had that for a couple weeks untill Black Friday when 3xl was discounted send jumped on it real quick. For me it was the form factor, I hated how small the iPhone was, you couldn't enjoy videos or see much really the bigger screen makes a big difference. The notch is something I never even notice now, it's just there. It be great if Google utilized the space a little bit better, hopefully they will do that.
I had the original Pixel XL.
loved the big screen
Updated to 3XL and within a day ... what notch?
PuffDaddy_d said:
But why did you select it over the Pixel 3 if you were so worried about the notch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wanted the bigger screen. I wasn't really worried about the notch.. I had seen the iPhone X and the Essential Phone both having notches and didn't find them annoying really.
Honestly, I dont know why people hate the notch so much. I like it. It forces the notifications and the other icons to the top (on either side of the notch) freeing up screen real estate for apps. I never hated the notch and now that I have it, I dont even notice it.
I truly believe people overreacted with the notch. Who cares about it...seriously. it's fine. not even noticeable when you use the phone daily.
nyydynasty said:
Honestly, I dont know why people hate the notch so much. I like it. It forces the notifications and the other icons to the top (on either side of the notch) freeing up screen real estate for apps. I never hated the notch and now that I have it, I dont even notice it.
I truly believe people overreacted with the notch. Who cares about it...seriously. it's fine. not even noticeable when you use the phone daily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People hate the notch because it's new, different, and they don't have one. Once these style phones have been out for a while, everybody will get used to it, and then the people who say they hate it now will be telling everyone how much they love it.
PuffDaddy_d said:
For months leading up to the release of the Pixel 3 series, I read all the comments online about how much people hated the over-sized notch and how much of a deal-breaker it would be. Many even said they'll choose the regular Pixel 3 instead of the XL. These sentiments continue online to this day... And yet, it appears the XL is outselling the regular Pixel 3 by significant margins. Even the volume of activity on the xda forums is night and day in favor of the XL variant.
So, can you all please share what made the unforgivable notch so forgivable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Notch never concerned me.
I have large hands so a bigger phone is just easier to use.
spotmark said:
People hate the notch because it's new, different, and they don't have one. Once these style phones have been out for a while, everybody will get used to it, and then the people who say they hate it now will be telling everyone how much they love it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
totally agree lol
parakleet said:
I have large hands so a bigger phone is just easier to use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also agree. I have larger hands and I came from the OG - Pixel XL and then switched to a company phone (Galaxy S9, which didnt have a small screen either), i just like the larger screens.
Interesting, it seems that most of you wanted the bigger phone simply because it's bigger.
That make sense, but I'm curious if that takes away google's incentive to improve the design if people still purchase one of the the ugliest phones of the year in droves?
I wouldn't call it one of the ugliest phones of 2018. I upgraded from my old Nexus 6 to the Pixel 3 XL and absolutely love it. Enabling dark mode makes it so I don't even notice the notch. There were a couple of initial hiccups, there always are with a new device. Google addressed the battery issues and distortion/vibration issues when listening to music at lower volume. I love the dual front facing speakers which is why I held out for so long before upgrading from my Nexus 6. Battery life is outstanding for my purposes. I don't have much time at work to fool around with my phone, so normally when I'm headed home after a 9 hr day I'm still sitting at around 80% battery.
Comparing the feel and weight of the Pixel 3 XL to my wife's iPhone 8+, the Pixel feels so much better to hold and is definitely lighter in weight.
PuffDaddy_d said:
Interesting, it seems that most of you wanted the bigger phone simply because it's bigger.
That make sense, but I'm curious if that takes away google's incentive to improve the design if people still purchase one of the the ugliest phones of the year in droves?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
being as unbiased as I can, calling it "ugly" is a little harsh. That's really all personal preference. Some might like it. Some may not. If you think it's ugly, I can respect that as it's your opinion. Personally, i like it and the notch doesnt bother me at all (never did, even before I bought the device).
On a personal level, I dont understand how anyone can call ANY phone ugly. Majority of phones are rectangle. When powered off, they all look the same (for the most part). The backside is where the variations occur. I dont use a case on any phone because the manufacturer spent a lot of time and money designing the feel of the device for a reason. Putting a case on it, ruins the entire reason they made it that way. Other than customizing your cases (which i can understand), many people will say they put a case on it to protect it from breaking. My answer to that is - hold your damn phone. Dont drop it. Dont put it on your lap while sitting down. You're going to forget its there and drop it when you stand up. Besides, you paid a lot of money for a device that you end up covering it with a crappy plastic cover (but I digress) ....
the backside is where most of the variations occur on different phones. If you put a case on it, you cant see the back anyway. So that brings me back to the front, which is why I originally said "i dont understand how anyone can call any phone ugly". The front is almost the same on every (popular) phone.
Well I certainly don't intend to start a discussion about the phone's attractiveness, but we have to be honest and recognize that the large notch, relatively large chin, and inconsistent radius corners, are what made the P3XL stand out from the competition (and not in a good way). The design is so offensive that it caused many to declare they would never buy it or would only but the smaller version.
Clearly, we are quick to condemn and even quicker to forgive ?
I need a bigger screen because my eyes are getting bad, and I like the bigger screen size. Also I can type on a bigger screen easier. I always hit the wrong keys on a smaller screen. If they made a bigger screen, I would get it.
In the past, Asus has been keen to release an assortment of phones per generation. Sometimes they were not the usual variety based on budget, rather, Asus would often release models that would be more of a master of a certain trade than its sibling and vice versa.
Point being, what is the probability that Asus will release a variation of this phone with an AMOLED display? I know it's a petty thing to ask, but I'm just antsy because the IPS screen is the one thing holding me back from throwing my money at Asus immediately and commending this as the greatest smartphone of all time, on paper (lol).
What are your thoughts?
The probability is zero.
nykreimox said:
In the past, Asus has been keen to release an assortment of phones per generation. Sometimes they were not the usual variety based on budget, rather, Asus would often release models that would be more of a master of a certain trade than its sibling and vice versa.
Point being, what is the probability that Asus will release a variation of this phone with an AMOLED display? I know it's a petty thing to ask, but I'm just antsy because the IPS screen is the one thing holding me back from throwing my money at Asus immediately and commending this as the greatest smartphone of all time, on paper (lol).
What are your thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take it like this. How many phones have you seen that after release (that is to say after fully revealing all the specs of the phone and selling the first batch to the public), they change specs such as screen technology (which is a huge change)?
Cant do a full research on that but i can almost guarantee that the answer will be zero LOL. Unless a manufacturer encounters an unfixable issue with the screen for which they would be forced to change to another technology, i don't think they will release one with AMOLED display. (and maybe not even that, maybe if there is a huge unfixable issue they would decide to skip the whole phone and just stop the manufacturing and move on to a newer model (with a different name, and fixed issues). We can take for example the Note 7 and their batteries, or the galaxy fold, or the many lg series phones with the bootloop issues (at least some of them) and the list can go on and on. But.... If you can find an AMOLED screen manufacturer maybe he/she can help you out
Personally I wouldn't worry about the screen. You may want to do some research on the flipping camera module as there seems to be a number of complaints around its functionality. If there's problems with it already, I can only imaging it getting worse the longer one has the phone in use. Also, there are now people complaining about boot-loops and constant UI freezes. I think Asus needs to get on top of these issues yesterday or this will turn out to be a big flop.
jinkerz9430 said:
Take it like this. How many phones have you seen that after release (that is to say after fully revealing all the specs of the phone and selling the first batch to the public), they change specs such as screen technology (which is a huge change)?
Cant do a full research on that but i can almost guarantee that the answer will be zero LOL. Unless a manufacturer encounters an unfixable issue with the screen for which they would be forced to change to another technology, i don't think they will release one with AMOLED display. (and maybe not even that, maybe if there is a huge unfixable issue they would decide to skip the whole phone and just stop the manufacturing and move on to a newer model (with a different name, and fixed issues). We can take for example the Note 7 and their batteries, or the galaxy fold, or the many lg series phones with the bootloop issues (at least some of them) and the list can go on and on. But.... If you can find an AMOLED screen manufacturer maybe he/she can help you out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good points, but not really in the scope of what I was wondering. I said *variant*, not replacement. I am questioning weather the situation would occur where Asus would keep the IPS model as a cheaper alternative to a more premium AMOLED model.
The most tricky problem when it comes to this situation is what the heck else Asus would add to the "more premium" AMOLED model to make it any more appealing than the "budget" IPS model, since the Zenfone 6 offers more beyond the screen than most competitors in the price range of $500+AMOLED=roughly $630 (adjusted for adequate profit) by MILES.
jaseman said:
Personally I wouldn't worry about the screen. You may want to do some research on the flipping camera module as there seems to be a number of complaints around its functionality. If there's problems with it already, I can only imaging it getting worse the longer one has the phone in use. Also, there are now people complaining about boot-loops and constant UI freezes. I think Asus needs to get on top of these issues yesterday or this will turn out to be a big flop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yikes, that is spooky. I'd hope to not worry about the camera module as its almost literally a pet idea I'd had sketched in my brain for years that would be one of the best instances of killing two birds with one stone I'd ever imagine: solving the offensively awful quality of selfie cams (which I don't use as much as most but the few times I need it are important) and destroying the bane of my interest in new smartphones known as notches with one stone.
However, AMOLED is near a requirement seeing as I use my current IPS equipped phone for rhythm games and other input intensive tasks and sorely miss the lower latency of my previous AMOLED phone. Night and day stuff, for me.
jaseman said:
Also, there are now people complaining about boot-loops and constant UI freezes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please, calm down. They tinkered with Developer options...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/zenfone-6-2019/help/uk-shipping-date-t3933035/post79765293
But anyway ASUS confirmed this animations bug, it'll be resolved in the next update.
_jis_ said:
Please, calm down. They tinkered with Developer options...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/zenfone-6-2019/help/uk-shipping-date-t3933035/post79765293
But anyway ASUS confirmed this animations bug, it'll be resolved in the next update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am calm...but to have such issues out-of-the-box is unacceptable. But none of what you point to as a bug fixes the problem with the camera module rattling, or not opening or closing properly. Is that a bug? Can software fix mechanical issues? I read where people are using strategically placed strips of duct tape to "solve" the rattling problem. So maybe Asus can throw in a small roll of duct tape along with a clear case? Yes, some people say theirs doesn't rattle or make added noise when the vibration motor is activated. So is this going to be a hit-or-miss proposition? What about when the module loosens from continual use, and someone wants Asus to do something about it, and they just say it's normal wear-and-tear, not covered by warranty? (Let's face it...this camera is a novelty and most people who get one are going to be flipping this thing in and out until the fat lady sings.) No offense to the more rotund feminine gender out there!!!
Don't get me wrong, I'm interested in this phone for many reasons, but along with limited/missing LTE bands, and a possibly faulty camera module design, I will wait until there are many more end users here in the US who give us their personal hands on reviews to make my decision. I never buy any tech of any kind without doing my homework.
nykreimox said:
I am questioning weather the situation would occur where Asus would keep the IPS model as a cheaper alternative to a more premium AMOLED model.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But this is exactly what im talking about. Here is how the market works most of the time. If i give you all the specs of a product before hand (including all the models i will be releasing), i take the liberty To make an event so that people can see what im offering and to test it. and i start selling each model of that product. Then all of the suden i decide to add an extra model out of the blue, now that's a risky move from where they might lose rather than gain. Lets number the issues that could happen.
1) People who already bought the IPS screen models would probably not buy it if there are things they already consider as defect (but might no be) in the phone (This alone decreases the sales by a good portion).
2) The cost of production will obviously increase with AMOLED screens, which in terms would also make the sale price of that model to significantly increase. (One of the main reasons this phone is being sold somewhat good is the price, and you will most likely see prices of at least $900+ on that new variant (which in terms kills the appealing price the zenfone has).
3) Following on issue two, (if asus decides to sell the AMOLED screens for repairments, that will obviously increase the repairment price of a cracked screen (accidentally or not accidentally). Believe it or not, more and more people are getting involve on the *fixing their own phones* thing now a days. Some of them will completely disregard the new variant with AMOLED released just because the dont deem it worthy if the cost of the screen repairs exceeds a certain price (which its often the case with AMOLED screens).
4) Following on issue 3, a portion of people are aware of Burn In screens that might develop on AMOLED screens (which we all know it is irreversible). Like always, a portion of people will end up wanting an exchange for a new phone within the warranty time given, then asus have 2 options there: give the customer a new phone if he is not satisfied with the screen performance (because lets say he left the screen on in google maps for 8 hours straight and the status bar got burned into the display, or basically any other app that if left untouched with the screen on for a long time, it might develop burn in image); or withstand the depreciation/anger they will have from those who got the AMOLED variant and got Burnt image on their phones.
These are probably the major issues they could face by doing this out of the blue. (It is just a volatil move). They could have done it if they had announced it along with the other ones at the same time. But now, their best move could be to wait for the next zenfone the are planning to release in the future.
Here is a Bonus issue: I can say with confidence that at the moment of dispatching the phones they might deliver the wrong products since whats going to change is just the screen. (which means returns, exchanges, more time for the consumer to wait, and some bad reviews (like any angry customers would attribute for a very silly mistake) lol)
Your reply is again all about malfunctioning camera mechanism despite that I commented just this your sentence "Also, there are now people complaining about boot-loops and constant UI freezes." I give you the post right here on XDA why it is happening and that this bug will be rectified. But these poor users have caused it to themselves, they made changes at the developer level, and not recognize the negative consequences of doing so, they didn't understand the causal link between the changes they made themselves and the phone's behavior. And then they complained about a broken phone.
jaseman said:
I never buy any tech of any kind without doing my homework.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When doing your homework you missed above information, so that's why I came up with a fix for this fake news, not just for you, but mainly for others.
I don't even comment about your hijacking of this thread.
I recently bought a Pixel6a with the Black Friday deal in Europe. Loved the software, but hated the hardware. Battery life has been awful since it didn't last a day, the colours look duller than my previous devices, has rainbow banding on white screen which is annoying for me and forced me to change to Dark Mode, but it's still annoying when reading with white background or watching videos (let's say there's a wardrobe in a video, a part of the wardrobe looks greener, the following looks normal and the following looks pinkier). The device doesn't overheat to the point of stop working, but It heats enough to be uncomfortable on my hands doing common everyday tasks (e.g. It gets to 40C when using Youtube/Twitch and 45C while gaming according to CPU Monitor App, but It feels hotter than what it looks like (disclaimer: 5G has been deactivated ever since I got the phone and using latest December update)), and after prolonged use, 15 mins or more, I have to let it down to cool it because touching the bare aluminium is uncomfortable to hold. I've sometimes found out it just heats up for no reason at all with no processes in the background.
I contacted Europe Google Support since I have till the 15th of January to send back the phone if I want. They first suggested a repair (I don't know what the tech support wanted to repair since It just sounds like a defect) and ended up doing an advanced replacement for a completely new device because the tech support guy concluded the device was defective based on my description. The device I got for replacement was a refurbished phone instead of a new factory one. Still, I tested out the device and found out it that had worse rainbow banding and the same heating issue or worse.
I contacted support again and they said they would contact the higher-ups with my case and I'd receive an email soon with an answer. Honestly, I'm not really hopeful with the upcoming answer, and I can't believe Google sends refurbished phones for clients in the returning window, I've had other phones with similar replacements and always got a completely new factory one and I feel betrayed about it.
I read online that a lot of people went through this problem and it got resolved after a replacement but it looks like I haven't been that lucky. Wondering what to do about it, thinking of asking Google about an actual replacement that hopefully doesn't have the uncomfortable heat and rainbow banding, but I'm in the verge of returning it due to this last experience. The pixel 6a is really good for browsing the web and using apps really fast since the software experience is so smooth compared to other devices, but I end up watching videos on my older devices (I have a really old 200€ Samsung, bq) because the experience is just better. I'm also a heavy phone gamer, so I don't mind a little heat when playing games, but this much looks like it's gonna wear the phone really fast and it's very concerning.
However, unlike many other users, I found no issues at all with the fingerprint sensor! Found out It just works better using the tip of the thumb rather than the full thumb and It works 100% of the time on both phones. Thumbs up for that! And also, the motor inside this device that produces the vibrations is the best one I've found so far in my life.
Let me know your thoughts and if you have the same temps while doing simple everyday tasks like me, and if the devices I have are really defective or that's their intended use because I have no stores available near me to check the phones or ask about it, and therefore take action based on it.
Thank you all in advance!
Other issues I found with the Pixel6a that I believe CAN be fixed through software:
The first 5 levels of volume don't actually move the slider a bit. Really annoying.
Saturated colours are really below the rest of the devices in the market. The only option for colour settings is either Natural or Adaptive, but even Adaptive looks like bare Natural on other devices I have. I also can't believe a Pixel has a cold-warm slider for taking photos but doesn't have the same slider for the colours of the phone itself. Let the people have the colours they want and don't force them on your business clamping or force them to root the phone.
Really disappointed to hear about the screen issues.
Honestly a colour temp adjustment for the screen should be standard on all phones now. I was shocked when I found that 2022 pixels still require a custom kernel just to choose your own white point.
That rainbow banding would drive me nuts too - reminds me of old school OLEDs I used several years ago.
Such a shame because I really want to experience the pixel camera, but looks like I'll be forced to go with Samsung or Xiaomi again.
Google's quality control is horrible. You wouldn't be the first to have to ask for a second replacement to get a "normal" device.
The "overheating" issue sort of fixes itself after a few weeks of use. I didn't want to believe others when they told me so, but I have experienced it on my own as well, and it does go away overtime.
DanTheSage said:
The first 5 levels of volume don't actually move the slider a bit. Really annoying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the case with all Pixels, basically. The bottom half of the volume slider (whether using the device's speakers or headphones (whether wired or not, made by Google or not)) is basically useless. Luckily, there's no noticeable distortion at max, but it doesn't get loud enough always.
DanTheSage said:
Saturated colours are really below the rest of the devices in the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You had mentioned earlier in your post that you have an old Samsung. Compared to what devices on the market do you think the Pixel's screen isn't saturated enough? Samsung has a tendency of oversaturating their displays to make them pop, so they aren't very accurate either.